Medical Reserve Corps

The responsibilities of MRC volunteers vary, depending on the nature of the needs in the community. MRC volunteers can assist during emergencies and assist with public initiatives and ongoing community health outreach and education efforts. Major emergencies can overwhelm the capabilities of first responders, particularly during the first 12 to 72 hours. Medical and other health volunteers can provide an important “surge” capacity during this critical period. They also can augment medical staff shortages at local medical and emergency facilities. In short, communities often need medically trained individuals and others to fill in the gaps in their emergency response plans and to improve their response capabilities overall. MRC volunteers also strengthen the overall health of Americans by participating in general public health initiatives such as flu vaccination clinics and diabetes detection programs. The U.S. Surgeon General has outlined his priorities for the health of individuals and the nation as a whole. With an overarching goal to improve health literacy, he encourages MRC volunteers to work toward increasing disease and injury prevention, eliminating health disparities, and improving public health preparedness. To find your local MRC chapter, visit: http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/FindMRC.asp